When dying people were asked what their great regrets in life were, their answers generally fell into five main areas:
- I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
- I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
- I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
- I wish that I had let myself be happier.
- I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
Not surprising, the last one on the list was the most common. But we’ll leave that one for another day or for a fortune that is more accommodating. For today’s fortune, I am focusing on items 3 and 4 from the list.
Express your feelings and stay in touch.
Is something amazing or difficult or exciting or new or heart breaking going on in your life? Then share it. If the news is positive, share it. We want to know. The world is rife with negativity and woe. What we need are more stories of personal triumph.
If your news is less than positive, share it too. We want to know. But share it in a way that bonds us together, not in the tiresome, we’ve-heard-this-a-million-times-before, woe is me way. Instead, open up and bare your soul. Take a risk and peel away the false husk of perfectionism. Just be you—warts and all. Connect with us. What we need are more stories of personal triumph.
What we humans need more than anything is know we are not alone. We need to know that we are not forgotten. I bet right now someone you know has come into your mind. Maybe it is a good friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Maybe it is a relative or sibling you don’t get along with. Maybe it’s a former coworker you have been thinking of partnering with on a new project.
Reach out. Get together if you can. Let them know you’ve been thinking about them and how important they are to you. Share your news. You won’t regret it.
To your good fortune!
